State spending prgs. review

AN ACT Relating to periodic review of state spending programs; 1
and adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in 4
this section, every new statutory state spending program shall 5
include an expiration date that is no more than 10 years from the 6
effective date of the spending program.7
(b) A future amendment that modifies or expands a statutory state 8
spending program does not extend the statutory state spending program 9
beyond the period provided in this subsection unless an extension is 10
expressly and unambiguously stated in the amendment.11
(2) For the purposes of this chapter, "new statutory state 12
spending program" means a state statute that: 13
(a) After January 1, 2026, establishes a new state expenditure 14
program, establishes a new state agency or department, expands a 15
state entitlement program, or establishes a new or expanded 16
distribution of state revenues to political subdivisions of the state 17
or other entities; and 18
(b) Is projected to result in increased state expenditures in 19
excess of $1,000,000 in state funds in the program's first full 20
fiscal biennium of implementation, and is not self-supported by fees.21
S-0323.1
SENATE BILL 5145
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Gildon, Braun, Christian, Dozier, Fortunato, McCune,
Wagoner, Warnick, and J. Wilson
Prefiled 01/07/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Ways & Means.
p. 1 SB 5145
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) As provided in this section, every 1
bill enacting a new statutory state spending program must include a 2
state spending performance statement.3
(2) A state spending performance statement must state the 4
legislative purpose for the new state spending program. In addition 5
to identifying the general legislative purpose of the state spending, 6
the state spending performance statement must provide additional 7
detailed information regarding the legislative purpose of the new 8
state spending. 9
(3) A state spending performance statement must specify clear, 10
relevant, and ascertainable metrics and data requirements that allow 11
the joint legislative audit and review committee and the legislature 12
to measure the effectiveness of the new state spending program in 13
achieving the purpose designated under subsection (2) of this 14
section. 15
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The joint legislative audit and review 16
committee must review new statutory state spending programs according 17
to a schedule developed by the committee. The committee must 18
consider, but not be limited to, the following factors in the review 19
as relevant to each particular new statutory state spending program:20
(a) Public policy objectives that might provide a justification 21
for the new statutory state spending program, including but not 22
limited to the state spending performance statement under section 2 23
of this act, the legislative history, and any legislative intent;24
(b) Evidence that the existence of the new statutory state 25
spending program has contributed to the achievement of any of the 26
public policy objectives; 27
(c) The extent to which continuation of the new statutory state 28
spending program might contribute to any of the public policy 29
objectives; 30
(d) The extent to which the new statutory state spending program 31
may provide unintended benefits to an individual, organization, or 32
industry other than those the legislature intended;33
(e) The feasibility of modifying the new statutory state spending 34
program to better achieve the intended objectives; and35
(f) Fiscal impacts of the new statutory state spending program, 36
including past impacts and expected future impacts if it is 37
continued. 38
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(2) For each new statutory state spending program, the committee 1
must provide a recommendation to the fiscal committees of the 2
legislature as to whether the new statutory state spending program 3
should be continued without modification, modified, scheduled for 4
sunset review at a future date, or terminated immediately. If the 5
committee determines that the new statutory state spending program 6
does not achieve the ascertainable metrics specified in the state 7
spending performance statement under section 2 of this act, the 8
committee shall recommend termination of the program. The committee 9
may recommend accountability standards for the future review of a new 10
statutory state spending program. 11
(3) If a new statutory state spending program does not include 12
the information required under section 2 of this act, the joint 13
legislative audit and review committee is not required to perform a 14
review under this section, and it is legislatively presumed that it 15
is the intent of the legislature to allow the new statutory state 16
spending program to expire on its scheduled expiration date.17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Sections 1 through 3 of this act 18
constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.19
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. If any provision of this act or its 20
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the 21
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other 22
persons or circumstances is not affected.23
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